Christmas

[maggiebee]

Had a wee debate with myself about which heading to put this under but finally decided on R&S. Came from a friend in the US and passing on for comment/debate/ridicule etc etc as the feeling takes you.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.


Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[magsmay]

Its a Christian festival, which, as a none Christian I will respect but can see no harm in sections of humanity wanting a holiday but not wanting to celebrate the birth of someone who represents a belief that is alien to them. People have been celebrating around Xmas time (YULETIDE) for 1000's of years as a feast and holiday -it was the Christians that hijacked the end of December as their festival - fantastic -welcome to the fun -but its not exclusive the the Christian community ;-)

[jomifl]

As an atheist I have no probem in believers of whatever faith celebrating their religous festivals. So Merry Christmas Maggie and a Happy Winter Solstice too!

[rojash]

Just had a look at the KMart website all decked out for Christmas, also Staples actually has a Christmas Shop page. JC Penny have Christmas on their front page too.
Strange how the kind of people who write this kind of cr@p first have to invent something to whinge about.

[ChuckFickens]

"Its a Christian festival"

I think there are some pagans that will disagree with you there.

[jno]

entirely imaginary complaint, as rojash says. The idea of going into K-Mart (or Selfridges or Tescos or whatever) at this time of year and not hearing the word "Christmas" is ludicrous.

[jake-the-peg]

Give it up!


You all tried to steal the mid-winter feastover 1000 years ago and despite your best efforts we still bring in greenery and kiss under mistletoe and feast and drink rather thango to church.

You had a good shot at religisizing the day but we're taking it back.

You did get the name in- despite tabloid rumours we all say Chrismas not Winterval!


But the true meaning of Christmas is the same as it'salways been - not church but Party!

[jno]

jake, the only pagan festivals that have survived have been the ones protected by the church. (Though Halloween has been handed over to children and largely stayed non-religious.) Pagans should be a bit more grateful. How many of them celebrate Imbolc these days?

[LazyGun]

This charge, that somehow the christmas festival is being subverted by the secular, regulated out of existence by the PC police (whoever they are) recurs every year, without fail.

It speaks volumes about the sense of victimhood of some christians, with notions, here expressed in verse, that somehow they are not allowed to mention christmas, or jesus, whilst society bends over backwards to recognise religions from other faiths and respects and observes them.

Not once have I ever seen these sort of complaints verified by actual fact. It comes back to the christian god being a jealous god - he no likee people worshipping other gods.

However, in the spirit of the OP, and because it is expected of me, as a secular atheist - Happy Winterval, retail drones! Go buy stuff, wallow in the material and forget that jebus chappie?

Well, you could ask "What Would Jesus Do?" I suppose - pretty sure he would be too busy with his xbox to give you any kind of coherent answer though :)

[atalanta]

Let's bring back the Saturnalia, that's what I say.

[naomi24]

The victim mentality surfaces again. Happy Christmas, Maggie.

[magsmay]

@chuck -perhaps if you read more than the first line of my post you wouldn't have posted that asinine comment-it IS a christian festival -its also a Pagan festival and soya, yalda,modraniht, pansha gadapati are all celebrated around the 25th december. - FWIW I've been a pagan all my life lol!

[maggiebee]

And a Happy Christmas to you too Naomi.

[Booldawg]

'The victim mentality surfaces again'

May I recommend a very good read Naomi. 'Christianophobia' by Rupert Shortt.

[naomi24]

Thanks Maggie. I’m sure it will be.

Booldawg, since LazyGun holds a similar opinion, he might be interested in that too. Thanks.

[WaldoMcFroog]

We should acknowleged that since this came from an American, when it talks about not allowing children to celebrate in their schools and the politicans banning Crimbo, what they mean is "correctly interpreting the 'separation of church and state' idea implied in the 1st Amendment", something that we shouldn't forget was put in place to prevent the state from persecuting believers by allowing the government to decree what religious beliefs were permissible.

They also always forget to mention that while they can't erect a nativity scene on the steps of the local court house, this doesn't amount to a banning of nativity scenes in public etc etc.

The poor persecuted majority of Americans. How I pity them.

[LazyGun]

@Booldawg - Thanks for the recommendation. I will look out for that title.

I suppose it would be wrong of me to say that it is just christianity that displays this victim mentality - I am sure the other major religions do it too - coming from the UK though, it is the christian examples that predominate.

[maggiebee]

Booldawg, may I recommend a very good read? It's called the Bible.

[naomi24]

Maggie, have you actually read it all now then?

[jackthehat]

Let's face it, it's just as well it is 2000-years old because it's too far-fetched, bloody, gloomy and contradictory to find a publisher these days.

Perhaps 'vanity-publishing' isn't as modern a concept as we imagine?

[jomifl]

Hi Maggie, MERRY CHRISTMAS!